Originally posted by jimbo
Slowpro - LOL - funny.

Wasn't the red herring from a mystery story, sherlock holmes or something, and it sort of morphed into a metaphor for something that leads you off the trail?
Actually i think there are several theories but they all center around dragging a herring around to throw dogs off the trail of something they are following. Some say the technique was used to train fox hounds to follow the fox scent better and not get distracted. Others say it was used by fugitives from justice running from bloodhounds. Either way the herring (which is red when cured) was used to lead dogs astray.
There you have it.